University of Richmond head women’s basketball coach Aaron Roussell has announced the addition of Ka’Lia Johnson to his staff as an assistant coach. A Richmond native, Johnson joins the Spiders from Longwood where she most recently helped lead the Lancers to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022.
“We are beyond ecstatic to welcome Ka’lia to our staff. She is someone that I have had my eye on for a while in hopes that she would join our program, and I am thrilled that the timing worked out. Being a Richmond native coupled with her playing experience at Duke and overseas will be a nice boost for us in so many ways,” said Coach Roussell. “I have seen her player development skills first-hand, and I’m excited about what she will do for our players and their futures.”
Johnson contributed to three-straight historic seasons with Longwood as she helped the Lancers go from just three wins in 2018-19 to Big South Conference Regular Season Co-Champions and Tournament Champions in 2021-22. The Lancers went on to win their NCAA First Four matchup and advance to the NCAA Tournament First Round, finishing the 2021-22 season at 22-12, a 19-win jump from the year prior to Johnson joining the staff.
During her time at Longwood, Johnson coached Akila Smith to Big South Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as Tra’Dayja Smith to Big South Tournament MVP honors. She also coached guard Kyla McMakin to the Big South Freshman of the Year title.
Johnson made the trek to Farmville after a season with VCU where she served as the video coordinator for a team that won 24 games in 2018-19 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. With the Rams, Johnson broke down film to analyze practice and games, while also assisting with the team’s social media accounts.
Prior to her season with the Rams, Johnson spent two seasons with UNCG as a graduate manager. In that role, Johnson broke down and analyzed game film, while coordinating and assisting with community outreach events with the Spartans.
Before joining the Spartans in a coaching role, Johnson competed professionally in the Czech Republic and Switzerland. With BLK Slavia Praha in the Czech Republic, Johnson was a four-time ZBL Player of the Week and led the league with 10.5 rebounds per game to go along with 19.4 points per contest.
During her collegiate playing career, Johnson helped Duke to four consecutive 20-win seasons, back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight in 2012 and 2013, and the 2013 ACC Tournament Championship. She finished her career with three ACC Academic Honor Roll honors.
As a senior captain in 2014-15, Johnson started 32 of 34 games at point guard and recorded the seventh triple-double in Duke history against Old Dominion with 18 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. She finished that season ranked fifth in the ACC in assists per game.
“I am super excited to be joining the Richmond Spider family. When I first met Coach Roussell three years ago while recruiting, there was an immediate respect for what he did at Bucknell and how he can bring that mindset to the University of Richmond. I always knew that if the opportunity came open, I wanted to be a part of that. Fast forward three years later and here I am. The coaches, staff, and players have already been so welcoming and I am eager to get to work,” Johnson said. “Being from Richmond, it is such an honor to stay home and chase championships. That has always been a dream of mine and I am happy that I can make that dream come true.”
Originally from Chester, Va., Johnson was the 2011 Times-Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year and a three-time Central District Player of the Year at Thomas Dale High School. She finished her career with 46 double-doubles and 15 triple-doubles, while finishing with a school record 2,075 points.
Johnson graduated from Duke in 2015 with a degree in sociology and received her master’s in liberal studies from UNCG in 2018.
